General Information

Free Smoke Alarms Available

The American Red Cross and the Monmouth Fire Department are working together to ensure that every home in Monmouth has working smoke alarms. As of June 19, 2017, 73 free smoke alarms have been installed this year. 

Residents may request a smoke alarm installation appointment at the website or text the word "Alarm" to (844) 811-0100; or call (844) 319-6560 and press 9. There is no charge for the smoke alarms or the installation.

The Red Cross urges residents whose homes do not have smoke alarms, or if the current smoke alarms were installed more than five years ago, to make an appointment. Residents who are unable to check their smoke alarm batteries are also encouraged to make an appointment. 

“Smoke alarms cut the risk of death from a fire in half," said Amber Wood, Executive Director for the American Red Cross, serving the Quad Cities and West Central Illinois. “Working in partnership with local fire departments, we can help protect your family by installing smoke alarms and teaching your children what to do if they hear it."

Seven times a day someone in our country dies in a fire. The Red Cross has been working to reduce that number through its Home Fire Campaign, a nationwide, multi-year effort to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries. Launched in October of 2014, the Red Cross and thousands of campaign partners have helped save numerous lives through the effort, and the campaign is on track to install the one-millionth free smoke alarm sometime in October 2017.

Simple Steps to Save Lives

Fire experts agree that people may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out. The Red Cross is calling on everyone to take two simple steps that can save lives: create and practice their home fire escape plan and check their smoke alarms. Other safety steps include:

  • If someone doesn’t have smoke alarms, install them. At a minimum, put one on every level of the home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Local building codes vary and there may be additional requirements depending on where someone lives.
  • If someone does have alarms, test them today. If they don’t work, replace them.
  • Make sure that everyone in the family knows how to get out of every room and how to get out of the home in less than two minutes.
  • Practice that plan.

Red Cross Apps

People can download the all-inclusive Red Cross Emergency app which combines more than 35 emergency alerts to help keep users safe. And there is a special mobile app called Monster Guard that is designed for kids; it teaches them to prepare for emergencies at home by playing an engaging game. Users can find the apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to the website.

What You Can Do

  • Visit the website to find out more about how to protect yourself and loved ones from fire.
  • Become a Red Cross volunteer by contacting via email.
  • Help by donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting the website, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations to disaster relief are used to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small.

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Grills, Outdoor Fireplaces and Chimineas

These outdoor cooking and recreational devices for burning clean dried wood, charcoal or pellets are allowed in the City of Monmouth without a permit and with no day or time restrictions. Each device should be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications for use and clearance from combustibles.

Fireworks

The minimum fireworks standards for the City of Monmouth are set by Illinois State Statute (“The Fireworks Use Act,” 425 ILCS 35/1). This act defines fireworks under three categories:

  • Unregulated novelty fireworks
  • Approved consumer fireworks
  • Professional grade fireworks

Currently, the only fireworks allowed for sale or use in the City of Monmouth are unregulated novelty fireworks. These unregulated novelty fireworks are:

  • Snake or glow worm pellets
  • Smoke devices
  • Trick noisemakers known as party poppers, booby traps, snappers, trick matches, cigarette loads, and auto burglar alarms
  • Sparklers
  • Toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns, or other devices in which paper or plastic caps containing twenty-five hundredths (25/100) grains or less of explosive compound are used, provided they are so constructed that the hand cannot come in contact with the cap when in place for the explosion
  • Toy pistol paper or plastic caps that contain less than twenty-five hundredths (25/100) grains of explosive mixture

State law does not allow unregulated novelty fireworks to be sold at locations where fuel is dispensed and sold.

Recreational Fire

A recreational fire is defined by the International Fire Code as “an outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish where the fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, barbecue grill or barbecue pit and has a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes." These outdoor fires (commonly known as wiener roasts or campfires) can be kindled without a permit or day or time restrictions.

Winter Fire Safety

In the winter, there are more home fires than at any other time of year. Home fires increase due to cooking and heating. Winter storms can also interrupt electrical service and cause people to turn to alternative heating sources that contribute to the increased risk of fire.

Safety tips:

  • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period, turn off the stove.
  • Space heaters need space; keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from each heater.
  • Check electrical cords often and replace cracked or damaged electrical cords. Do not try to repair them.
  • Never use your oven or stovetop to heat your home. They are not designed for this purpose and can be a fire and carbon monoxide hazard.
  • Do not leave a live Christmas tree up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
  • Avoid using lighted candles. If you must use candles, place them in sturdy non-combustible candleholders.

Paid Fire Protection Services Outside the City Limits of Monmouth

With approval of City Council, the Monmouth Fire Department offers paid fire suppression services to structures within a two-mile radius of the City of Monmouth. This protection can be purchased by the property owner for $7.00 per $1,000 of current assessed valuation. This cost is in addition to the taxes a property owner pays to the fire protection district they are currently in. This paid protection is supplementary to the services offered by your fire protection district and is for fire suppression only.

Insurance Services Office Fire Protection Rating for the City of Monmouth (2022)

Public Protection Class 4

Receiving and handling fire alarms: 8 out of 10 credits received

Fire Department: 24.76 out of 50 credits received

Credit for water system: 24.81 out of 40 credits received

*Divergence -2.50 credits due to a difference in relative credits for Fire Department and water supply